The Adventurous Lectionary: Fourth Sunday of Easter – May 11, 2014

“I have come that you might have life, and have it abundantly.” This was one of Jesus’ mission statements. He is affirming that while there are pathways that lead to destruction, the good shepherd seeks only the best for his sheep. The good shepherd wants us to flourish, to live joyfully, and grow into full humanity.

There is a pathway that leads to abundant life and we catch a glimpse of it in the words of Acts 2. In this honeymoon time of the church, the Jerusalem community is filled with the spirit and the spirit motivates their life together. Perhaps, the author of Acts is using some hyperbole here but the world he describes presents an ideal human community, the beloved community, the body of

Christ, toward which we strive and which is so different from our individualistic, self-interested, win-lose, competitive world. Dare we imagine such a world, such a church, and would we even accept it or join such a community, which saw our personal lives part of a greater story which claimed our time, talent, and treasure. If we imagine less, we will settle for the unsustainable, economically unjust, and ecologically devastating in which we currently live.

In twenty-first century individualistic America, these words are countercultural even in the church, but we need to address them, and perhaps struggle with how we can live them out in the free market and in the life of the church.

First of all, the Jerusalem community devoted itself to faith formation, through theological reflection, prayer, and worship. What we believe matter and it’s connected with how we live our lives. The first followers saw God as life-giving, breaking down barriers, and calling us to new life through the resurrection of Jesus and the gifts of the Holy Spirit. Prayer was as real as breathing, and every moment was a call to prayer. They prayed and broke the bread of life together, celebrating Christ’s supper as often as they gathered.

Second, they were filled with awe, expecting great things from God and their community. They believed abundant life was possible for everyone and that God was moving in their lives, giving them power to love, heal, and welcome.

Third, they shared with one another: while they may not have sold their property in its entirety, they made their largesse available to their neighbor. They saw their well-being connected with the well-being of every member of the community. They were each other’s business, not in a gossipy way, but in terms of promoting one another, knowing another’s success contributed to the health of the body and my our health. They sold their possessions to benefit those in need, creating a community in which everyone had what he or she needed.

This is the most radical aspect of this beloved community. Its members were not possessed by their possessions. They saw the well-being of others as important as their own – they took greed off the table; they would not make a profit if it hurt others; they would not accept inequality in community in terms of economics. While some members may have had “more” economically, their largesse was not private property to be used as we wish but subject to the needs of others. We rob from God when our wealth indirectly or directly hurts others.

This is clearly an embodied, spiritual socialism, and while not necessarily big government, certainly a challenge to any free market, amoral system. It certainly argues for caring for vulnerable people by any means necessary, insuring without asking questions or setting minimal requirements that all have food, housing, health care, and the ability to work.

Finally, they shared meals gratefully with friends and family. They had glad and generous hearts. Their gratitude opened up a world of unexpected possibility. Gratitude is the virtue of relationship and interdependence, reminding us that none of us is self-made, all of us depend on the efforts of others, job creators need workers, and out of this interdependence, our lives are our gifts to God and one another. From the perspective of Acts 2 our success is judged by how much good we do for others, not the size of our bank account, business profits, and ability to compete successfully with others. This is not a call to mediocrity, whether spiritual or economic, but God’s challenge to seek excellence that benefits our neighbors and create businesses that promote employment and ecological well-being as the primary goal, not corporate or individual wealth.

Abundant life involves doing something beautiful for God at every level of our lives, and insuring that our congregational, business, professional, and economic priorities give something beautiful to God by bringing beauty to our neighbor’s lives.

Rev. Bruce Epperly, Ph.D., serves as Pastor at South Congregational Church, United Church of Christ, Centerville, MA. Prior to coming to Cape Cod in 2013, he served on the faculties and often in administrative and chaplaincy roles at Georgetown University, Claremont School of Theology, Wesley Theological Seminary, and Lancaster Theological Seminary. Bruce is currently a professor in spirituality, ministry, and theology in the doctoral program at Wesley Theological Seminary in Washington D.C. He has served as pastor or interim pastor of congregations in Virginia, Maryland, and Pennsylvania. He is the author or co-author of over 35 books in the areas of theology, spirituality, ministerial excellence and spiritual formation, scripture, and healing and wholeness, including Process Theology: Embracing Adventure with God; Finding God in Suffering: A Journey with Job; From Here to Eternity: Preparing for the Next Adventure; and A Center in the Cyclone: Clergy Self-care in the 21st Century.

GET PATHEOS NEWSLETTERS

Sign up for free newsletters and special offers

Get the Best of Patheos Newsletter Get the Progressive Christian Newsletter Get the Living A Holy Adventure Newsletter